Whisky aging vat



Nov. 3, 1953 R. B. GIBSON WHISKEY AGING VAT Filed March 17. 1949 Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHISKY AGING VAT Richard B. Gibson, Glencoe, Mo.

Application March 17, 1949, Serial No. 81,955

8 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to the container art, and more particularly to a novel vat for aging whiskey, which, in its preferred form, comprises a glass container with white oak members positioned therein.

As is Well known to those familiar with the art, the better whiskies are aged in white oak casks. The white oak used in the manufacture of these casks must be select wood, free from knots and similar defects, and the usual practice is to use only that portion of the tree between the ground and the lowest branches, the remainder of the tree being discarded. Because of this and other requirements, such as the special shape of the stave bolts, white oak casks for aging whiskey have always been very expensive. Also, in recent years, the white oak forests have been nearly depleted, so that suitable white oak timber has become very scarce, thereby Vfurther increasing the cost of casks.

Much experimentation has been conducted in an attempt to iind a suitable substitute for native white oak for aging whiskey, but none has been very successful.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a novel vat for aging whiskey which utilizes white oak which heretofore has been discarded because of its shape or structural defects.

Another object is to provide a vat for aging whiskey which can be manufactured at a small fraction of the cost of the white oak casks in use at the present time.

Another object is to provide a vat for aging whiskey, the main portions of which can be continuously reused. l

Another object is to provide a novel vat for aging whiskey which utilizes white oak lumber cut in standard sizes.

Another object is to provide a vat for aging whiskey which has more surface area of white oak exposed to the whiskey than a cask of conventional design constructed to hold the same amount of liquor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a vat madein accordance with the teachings of the present invention with various portions thereof cut away to show the inner construction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view vtaken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4 4 in Fig, 2.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals I0 indicates generally a Vat made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. It includes an open top container I2 of glass or like material which has side walls I4 and a bottom wall I6.

A iiat white oak board I8 of rectangular shape and containing a series of spaced elongated slots 2c is disposed in the bottom of the container I2.

A sleeve-like member 22 of glass or like niaterial having side walls 24 is disposed within the container I2 on top of the bottom board I8. The outer dimensions of the sleeve-like member 22 are slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of the container I2 so as to provide a space 2t around the former between it and the inner faces of the container side walls I4. As shown in Fig. 2, the upper edges of the sleeve walls 24 are slightly below the upper edges of the container walls I4. A series of spaced vertical slots 28 are contained on the sleevey Walls 24.

A series of flat elongated While oak boards 3U, not necessarily of the same width, are positioned in the space 26. The thickness of the members Si! is a little less than the distance between the sleeve walls and the container walls so as to permit the members to expand when wet without their pressing against the inner surface of the container walls I4, or the outer surface of the walls 24.

Another series of flat elongated white oak boards 32, not necessarily the same width, are positioned within the sleeve-like member 22 with the'lower ends thereof disposed in the slots` 2t. As is shown in Fig. 3, the upper ends of the boards 32 extend slightly above the upper edges of the walls 24.

A flat white oak board 34 of rectangular shape is disposed on top of the sleeve-like member 22 with its outer edges abutting the inner faces of walls I4. A series of spaced elongated grooves 36 are contained in the underside of the board 34. The grooves'i are equal in number to the slots 20, are of substantially the same size, and are directly above the slots 29 so that the upper ends of the boards 32 are positioned therein when the boards 32 extend vertically upward as shown in Fig. 3. An opening 37 is contained in the board 34 approximately midway between two of the grooves 36.

A iiat cover 38 .of glass or like material is dis- 3 posed 'on top of the container I2. The cover 38 has a step-like groove with vertical portions 40 and horizontal portions 42 formed in the outer edges thereof. As is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the vertical portions 40 abut the inner face of the walls I4 and the bottom surface of the cover 38 bears against the upper surface of the top board 34 so as to maintain it in position- In use, the containerV I2 is positioned so. that it 'rests die tmoin wan le. The. lower. board I8 is placed in the bottom of the container I2 and the sleeve-like member 22 then positioned on.

top of it so as to provide a continuous space^l 2Q around the sleeve-like member as described above.

The outer boards 30 are then inserted. the...

space 26 between the container I, 2` and the sleevelike member 22. boards 32 are positioned in the slots 20; with. the upper portions extending vertically upward. The upper beate 3.4. thee platee. eater ef. the upper edges ofthe, walls. 24;4 withntliie upper ends of the beards 32 Deeitleaed. 11,1 the ereeies. Si

Th'e'n, with the upper board 34`held downwith Weight. (eet Shawn), thewhiekey. is purinesecl.l or f.

Alill/Q.-'llile'. Vatv Iii, through the, opening 3,1 until it' reaches the approximatelevel indicated at'f44-j. The weightfpreventsthe upper board 34 frm, beine liitefeeilev the force. f. the. beards 30 'and A32'attempting tot, oat upwardly.

After` the. vatl hasv been.. lled, to the desired level; thecover-Y 38.15. placed onl top, of the. con.- t'ainer I2 simultaneously. with the removal of the weightY (not shown).` 'The cover. 3g.' is heavy elought remain in posltlerl reeardleee 0f. the upward frce'foj the. boardsA 3Q. and 32.

"Thefwhislrey passesT through the slots 2.8.50 as to.beinzintimate.Contact withrbOh the inner and outerV surfaces` of the` boards 30@ so that, with theebeardsl alone, Subetarltally.. twice. as much woodsurface is,exposed. to,A the whiskeyl as where at onventional'caskzof;thesamesizeisnused. Conseguen y, when both the k outer boards 73..0' and the ilnebearde 3.251 alte ueed; itis manifest that the square feet of `white, oak exposed' to` the, whiskey ismany,timeeihatef'a.enverltlellaleask.

`)After thefwhiskeyhasraged sumciently, itcan be "pedout, or, iffdesirable, the container I2 @all belllltiall'y, miei/ide@ ...with an opening in .the lewerfportionlof; aside'wall I4` throughwhich the lideermavbe. .dlfalineli` Itis, ane renttllatitie immaterialpwhetheethe Whiteoak.; earde. and. 32am remevedgbefere or "after the whiskeyis removed.

After italique?. llas been removed. and. the nhitepalabeardefemeved andeisearded; theeonf, tajilerllli thelsleeveflike member-22. andthe coverf- 38 are Cleaned. preparatory. to. theirV being ref-:used

' Asj' will be notedmfrom'lthe: drawing, thev con-v tainer I2', the sleeve-like member.. 2.2,l andthe cover3 larlenonf simple .design and can be produced at airelatiyelyvlow cost,v and, as, described above, strlllllrallyimpelieetewhteOak beards 0f various Widths; eanbejused: Se thatthe costei aging, Whiskeyv With v the vat' constructed `ini accordance withfthej teachings; o f l the present V invention is. a small fraction ofrtheecost resulting. from using a easfkef-eerwentienal'designL vlItfisftov bex` understood'lthat the container can belofanyizeorshape, and that the foregoing deeeiiptien andiheaeeempenyine drawinghave bl elvengnlrby Way ef illustrati@ anderem.- ple", andthatchanges and alterations inthepres: ent disclosure, which will be readilyl apparent to'oneskilled-in the art, are contemplated as The bottom ends of the inner tainer, and white oak members disposed Within space adapted to be in free contact with Whiskey which may be placed therein for proper aging thereof- 2. A device of the type described for aging whiskey, comprising a container of material inert tov.,whis ley having an opening in the upper portion thereof and containing at least one Wall, a perforated sleeverlike. member of inert, material dipsedwithin.; Said.' container Se. as. t0 provide. a

space between, it and. the walli of the containerin, communicaton-v With. the interiorv of said con.- tainer, white oak membersfreely disposed'witliin said space adapted tov be in, free. contact with. whiskey which may be. placed therein. for proper agingA thereof, and. closure means, covering, the: openinguin thecontainer andlimiting the upward.

movement of the, whiteW oak` members.

ering the opening in the container.Y

4 A device. 0f the type. descrilmed0 for aging whiskey, comprisingacontainer having anopeni ingA in theupper portionthereoand.containing at'v leastV one walk, a rst" fiatV white oak. member disposeddn'theebottom of the container, a p erfo.- l rated sleeve-like member disposed within. thecontainer on top of saiduwhite oalgmember sogasto providel avspace betweenthe sleeve-like member and the wallA` of the container inf. communication with the interior of said container, white oak.; members positionedr freely, Within said' space adapted'to be in free' contact 'witljvvhiskeywhich mayvlbe placed therein for proper agingjthereof, and` apsecond iiatj White. oak member disposed :L

above the sleeve-like member so as tou limit; the

upward movement of said whiteoakmembers 1 withinthe space.

5i A device ofthe type, described for agingA whiskey`l comprisinga-,container having anY opening in the upperportion thereofand'containing i at least oneuwall, a rst iiat whiteA oakjmember disposedin the 4bettom'ofthe container, ,aperfcrated sleeve-likemember disposedivithin .the coni.- y tainer on topofsaidwhite oakinember soas..

toprovide a space between' the sleeve-like mem ber and the Wallofthe containerl incommunication :with the`,interior of saidA container, White f oak members `freely e positioned within. said -space' adapted toA be in free ,contactwith' whiskeywh'ich may be placed therein forproper aging thereof, a second `flat'whiteoak'member disposed above the sleeve-like member'so as to limit'the upward.V

movement of said White oak members within the space, and closure means covering the opening in the container and bearing against the upper surface of the second white oak member'.

6. A device of the type described for aging whiskey, comprising a container having at least one wall, a perforated sleevenlike member disposed within the container so as to provide a space between it and the wall of the container in communication with the interior of said container, a first series of White oak members disposed in said space, and a second series of white oak members positioned Within the sleeve-like member adapted to be in free contact with Whiskey which may be placed therein for proper aging thereof.

7. A device of the type described for aging Whiskey, comprising a container having at least one wall, a perforated sleeve-like member disposed within the container so as to provide a space between it and the wall of the container in communication with the interior of said container, a first series of white oak members freely disposed in said space, and a second series of white oak members positioned within the sleevelike member adapted to be in free contact with Whiskey which may be placed therein for proper aging thereof, and means limiting the upward movement of said White oak members.

8. A device of the type described for aging Whiskey, comprising a container having at least one Wall; a iirst flat white oak member disposed in the bottom of the container, said member containing a series of spaced elongated slots; a perforated sleeve-like member disposed within the container on top of the white oak member so as to provide a space between the sleeve-like member and the wall of the container; a series of vertically extending elongated white oak members positioned within said space; another series of vertically extending elongated White oak members positioned within the sleeve-like member, the lower ends of said last-named oak members being disposed in the slots in said iiat oai: member; and a second flat white oak member disposed on top of the sleeve-like members, said last-named oak member oontaininga series of spaced grooves in the lower surface thereof; the upper ends of said other series of elongated oak members being disposed in said grooves.

RICHARD B. GBSON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 12,210 McAvoy Jan. 9, 1855 34,373 Reese Feb. 11, 1862 235,591 Toope Dec. 14, 1880 582,380 Tebbutt May 11, 1897 970,648 Sargent Sept. 20, 1910 986,835 Lewis Mar. 14, 1911 1,337,278 Schultz Apr. 20, 1920 2,079,378 Mills May 4, 1937 2,105,693 Jones et al Jan. 18, 1938 2,135,622 Nagle Nov. 8', 1938 2,289,245 Dant July 7, 1942 2,487,594 Rudnick Nov. 8, 1949 

